A coordinated global crackdown led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—Operation Artemis—has uncovered a massive sextortion network causing financial losses exceeding $65 million, with 22 Nigerian nationals arrested in connection to the scheme.
In a public statement issued on April 24, the FBI revealed that Nigeria served as a central hub for many perpetrators involved in the sextortion of minors across the United States, Canada, and Australia. The operation was launched in response to a sharp 30% increase in sextortion reports gathered by the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center between October 2024 and March 2025.
Sextortion—a form of online blackmail involving threats to share sexually explicit content unless demands are met—has tragically contributed to a rising number of teenage suicides, especially in North America.
“As a result of Operation Artemis, FBI investigations led to the arrests of 22 Nigerian individuals linked to financially motivated sextortion rings,” the FBI confirmed.
The agency also disclosed that the initiative was the first of its kind to be launched directly on Nigerian soil, with law enforcement personnel from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia working in close collaboration with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Over the past two years, sextortion crimes have cost victims nearly $65 million,” the FBI noted.
According to data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 54,000 victims were reported in 2024, a steep rise from 34,000 in 2023, underlining the urgent need for global cooperation in tackling these crimes.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that the international dimension of Operation Artemis marks a significant milestone in the fight against child exploitation.
“This investigation is an important step in bringing justice and accountability to global perpetrators of online child abuse,” Patel stated.
The FBI continues to urge parents, educators, and guardians to educate children about online safety and to report suspicious activities immediately, as the agency expands efforts to dismantle transnational cybercrime networks.
